The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has attributed the party’s decisive victory in the 2024 general elections to a controversial but strategic overhaul of its parliamentary leadership ahead of the polls.
Speaking in Tamale, Mr. Nketiah said the party’s decision in 2023 to reshuffle its Minority leadership in Parliament was a calculated move aimed at strengthening its electoral prospects in the face of emerging political dynamics.
The restructuring saw the removal of the entire Minority leadership team led by Haruna Iddrisu. In their place, Cassiel Ato Forson was appointed Minority Leader, with Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah as Deputy Minority Leader. Kwame Agbodza was named Minority Whip, supported by Ahmed Ibrahim and Comfort Doyo Ghansah as deputy whips.
According to Mr. Nketiah, the changes were necessary to reposition the party’s “forward line” in Parliament and enhance its competitiveness going into the elections.
“New things were emerging, and I said that we have to change the forward line of Parliament, otherwise it will be difficult for us to win the election,” he explained.
He revealed that the decision was not without resistance, including initial disagreement from the party’s presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama. However, Mr. Nketiah insisted that as party chairman, he had the responsibility to take bold decisions in the interest of electoral success.
“You have elected me as Chairman of this party; I am the coach of the party going into the election, so let me make the changes that will win us the election,” he said.
The move, he noted, sparked internal tensions and public speculation, with some interpreting it as a personal fallout among party leaders. Mr. Nketiah, however, dismissed such claims, stressing that the reshuffle was purely strategic and not intended to sideline any individuals.
“There was hell, and people started thinking that somebody who has been my friend for more than 20 years has suddenly become my enemy,” he recounted.
Following the NDC’s victory, Mr. Nketiah said he advised President Mahama to ensure experienced figures such as Mr. Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak were included in government appointments—a recommendation that was accepted to promote unity within the party.
He maintained that the election outcome vindicated the leadership changes, describing the NDC’s performance as one of the strongest in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
“We went into the election, and we won. Have you seen such victory in Ghana since the beginning of the Fourth Republic?” he remarked.
Mr. Nketiah also cautioned party members against factionalism, urging unity as the NDC transitions from opposition to governance.
“If you are forming groups—Haruna groups, Asiedu Nketiah groups—that is not our case. The NDC will continue to be one,” he said.
He emphasized that while internal disagreements are inevitable in politics, cohesion remains critical for sustaining electoral gains and delivering effective governance.
